Combined soap-bubble device and humidifier



Aug.1s,1925. 1,5501151 E. B. BEELER G OHBINED SOAP BUBBLE DEVICE ANDHUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 28, 1923 Arm/Mfrs y so Cal

Patented Aug. 1S, 1925.

A Unirse srarrs ESTEN B. BEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSGNOR 0FONE-HALF TO HERBERT BEELER,'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS."

`COMBINED SOAP-BUBBLE DEVIC AND HUMIDIFIER.

Application filed February 28, 1923. Serial No. 621,904.

To all fuwm. t may concern 'Be itknoWn that I, ESTEN B. Bencini, acitizen of the United' States, and a resident of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Combined Soap-Bubble Devices and'Humidifiers, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in combined soap bubble device andhumidilier, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, andarrangements herein` described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a combined soap bubble deviceand humidifier that is adapted to furnish the required amount of Watervapor to the air in the room for the purpose of humidifying the air, andat the same time to provide a device which makes a pleasing appearanceto the eye.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is adapted to form bubbles when desired for display,amusement, or other' purposes.

A further object of my Vinvention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in Which the air` that forms the bubbles 1s forced through themotor that actuates the fan, Wherebythe motor iskept cool during theoperation of the device.

A- further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the motor is provided with means by which it may bereadilyroiled Without the necessity of disassembling the entire device.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed Which consists of a minimum number of parts and which is notlikely to get out of order easily.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention Will beparticularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying. drawings forming partof this invention, in Which Figure 1 is a vertical section through thedevice, portions thereof being shown in elevation, i

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the device, and i Figure 3is a plan view of a portion of the device.

In carrying out my invention I provide a base 1 upon which an invertedcup-shaped member 2 is disposed. In the present form of the device Ihave shown the base as being constructed of metal, but it is obviousthat any other kind of material desired may be used. ylhe cup-shapedmember 2 is secured to the basel by means of a spun-over portion 3. Thecup-shaped member 2 has a large central opening 4 in the top thereof,this opening receiving a depressed portion 5 of a cyiindrical member 6.The shoulder 7 merges the portion 5 into the cylindrical portion 6. yFrom this construction it Will be noted that the cylindrical member 6 issupported by vthe shoulder .7 and is prevented from y movement withrespect to the cupshaped member 2 by the portion 5 that is insertedinthe opening 4.

A 'Water containing` receptacle 8 is disposed upon the cylindricalmember 6 and is prevented from lateral movement With respect to thecylindrical member by means of a depression 9 that is received Withinthe upper end of the cylindrical member 6. A flange 10 of thecylindrical member 6 supports the Water reservoir 8. In the present formof the device, I have shown the reservoir 8 as being provided With aside fash ioned in a scroll. Itshould be noted that the shape of thereservoir 8 may be changed at Will so as to readily change the design ofthe device. The 'bubble forming means is disposed Within the reservoir 8and consists of a spherical-shaped member 11 that has a tubular portion12 that extends from its fiat surface 18, the tubular portion 12 beingslidably disposed upon a pipe 14 that is carried by the reservoir 8. Thepipe 14 is centrally disposed with respect to the reservoir 8 andextends through the depression 9 so as to, place the reservoir 8 incommunication with the cylindrical portion 6.O The pipe is held in placeby means of the ordinary Water tight packing` 15. The tubular member 12Vcarries a rubber gasket 16 Which has a central bore that is slightlylarger .in diameter than the outside diameter of the pipe 14. It willtherefore be noted that the sphericalshaped member 11 is looselyreceived upon the pipe 14, and is adapted to move along the pipe.

The member 11 is slidably disposed on the pipe 14 so as to be on thesurface of the liquid no matter at What level the liquid is. The member11 can therefore make bubbles loo until practically all of the liquid islost through evaporation. 1n Figure 1 I have shown the spherical member'as resting upon the surface of the liquid 17, (see full line position)and as being supported by the top of the pipe 141, (see dotted lineposition).

The sphcrical-shaped member 11 is supported by the stem le -when thedevice is not being operated. rlCbe member 1'1 is adapted to be raisedby air which is forced` through the pipe 141- and into the member by afan 18. rlibe air which is forced into the member 11 is first drawnthrough openings 19 in the cup-shaped member 2, is then drawn through anopening 2G in the bottom ofthe depressed portion 5, and is forcedthrough the openings 21 in an electric motor 22. Vilhis moveent of airis caused by the rotation of the lt is obvious that as the air passesJoh the motor 22 it will cool the same, tov prevent the motor fromoverheating even though the motor is` run for relatively long periods. The air which passes through the motor is conveyed into the member 11 bymeans of the pipe 14.

fi/Then the member 11 is in its lowermost position` it is practicallyfilled with the liquid 17. rlhe member 11 is moved upwardly as the airfills the interior of the member. This movement continues until theunder side of the flat portion 13 rests upon the surface of the liquid17 The fiat portion 13 has a plurality of small openings 23 that aredisposed adjacent to the edge of the portion. The air will pass throughthese openings and form bubbles 24 when the flat portion 13 rests uponthe surface of the liquid 17. rlie bubbles are forced upwardly throughthe interior of the glass j ar 25 and out through the opening` 2G in thetop of the jar. The bubbles will then flow downwardly along the outsideof the jar 25' and will condense back into theliquid when they strikethe liquid 1-7. The glass jar 25 is carried by a, flange 27 ofv acylindrical member 28. The member 28 is snugly received in thedepression 9, whereby the cylindrical member is prevented from lateralmovement with respect to the reservoir 8. r1`he member 2S has openings29 adjacent to its lower edge, these openings permitting the ,liquid toflow from the reservoir 8 to the cylinder 28. y

From the foregoing description of the va rions part-s of the device thevoperation thereof' may be readily understood. The motor is supported bya cup-shaped member 30 that in turn rests upon the shoulder 7. Themember 30 not only supports the motor 22 but causes all of the air topass through the motor and thus keep the motor cool.

The device is used as a humidifier when the motor is ruiming, by forcingthe air through water; and is used as a humidifier when .the motor isnot running by evaporation. Vilhcn itis desired to have the device formbubbles, it is merely necessary to start thermotor. As heretoforestated, the air will be drawn into the device through the openings 19,will pass through the opening 20, the openings 21, and the motor 22, thepipe 14, the member 11, and the openings 23. As soon as the motor 22 isstarted, it will force the air into the member 11 so as to raise themember into the full line position shown in Figure 1. The air will passthrough the openings. 23 when the fiat portion 13 is resting upon thesurface of the liquid 17. The air will then escape through the openings23 and will pass down between the under side of the portion 13 and thesurface of the liquid. Villien the air escapes from the periphery of themember 11, it will carry a portion of the water therewith, this waterforming a film which assumes a spherical shape, i. e., a bubble. Theliquid 1.7 is preferably a soapy solution, and may be colored ifdesired, so as to provide the bubbles with the various hues of therainbow. These colored bubbles move upwardly in the interior of theglass jar 25,l out through the opening 26, and down along the exteriorof the jar. As soon as the bubbles strike the liquid 17, they willcondense back into the liquid. The level of the liquid in the reservoir8 and the cylinder 29 is kept the same due to the fact that the openings29 place the reservo-ir and the cylinder in direct communication witheach other.

The cup-shaped member 30 is provided with an opening 31 which isdisposed directly above an oil pipe 32 that communicates with the motor22. When it is desired to oil the motor it is merely necessary to removethe reservoir 8 from the cylinder 6 and drop-the oil through the opening31 and into the pipe 32. The pipe 32 will feed the oil to the motor soas to keep the motor lubricated.

The device is designed so as to make a pleasing appearance to the eye.The device provides a beautiful spectacle when it is in operation as thecolored bubbles move upwardly through the interior of the glass ar 25and downwardly along the exterior of the jar.

I cla-im:

1. A device of the type described comprising a reservoir adapted toholdv a liquid therein, anair pipe projecting above the surface of theliquid, a bubble forming mein ber slidably disposed on said air pipe-andbeing in communication with said air pipe, said member having air outletopenings. on its under side, whereby said member is moved when air isforced therein, so as to cause the under side to be carried by thesurface of the liquid irrespective of the level of the liquid.

2. A device of the type described comprising a reservoir adapted to holda liquid therein, an air pipe carried by said reservoir and projectingabove the surface of the liquid, a bubble forming member slidablydisposed on said air pipe and being in co1nmunication therewith, saidbubble forming member having a flat under surface with air outletopenings therein, and means for forcing air through said pipe and intosaid bubble forming member, said member resting on the surface of theliquid when air is forced therethrough irrespective of the level of theliquid.

3. A device of the type described comprising a reservoir adapted to holda liquid therein, an air pipe carried by said reservoir and projectingabove the surface of the liquid, a bubble forming member slidablydisposed on said air pipe and being in communication therewith, saidbubble forming member having a flat under surface with air outletopenings therein, and means for lforcing air through said pipe and intosaid bubble forming member whereby said member will rest on the surfaceof the liquid no matter what height the level of the liquid is, saidmeans comprising a fan for forcing air into said pipe.

4. A device of the type described comprising a reservoir adapted to holda liquid therein, a centrally disposed vertically eX- tending air pipecarried by said reservoir and extending above the level of the liquid, afan for forcing air through said pipe, a bubble forming member slidablydisposed on said pipe and having a flat under surface with air outletopenings therein, said member being in communication with said pipe,

and adapted to rest on the surface of the liquid when air is forcedtherethrough and a transparent cylindrical casing extending from a pointbelow the surface of the liquid to a point disposed above the top ofsaid reservoir, said casing having an open top and surrounding saidbubble forming member.

5. A device of the type described comprising a basin adapted to hold aliquid therein, a cylinder disposed in said basin and extending abovethe liquid, said cylinder having perforations adjacent to the lower endthereof, an air pipe disposed in said cylinder and projecting above theliquid in said basin, and a bubble forming member slidably disposed onsaid pipe.

6. In a device of the type described a basin adapted to hold a liquidtherein, an air pipe disposed in said basin and projecting above thesurface of said liquid, a bubble forming member slidably disposed onsaid pipe, a fan for conveying air to said pipe, a motor adapted toactuate said fan and being disposed between said fan and pipe, wherebythe air current formed by the fan is forced through said motor to keepsaid motor cool during operation.

7 A device of the type described comprising a reservoir adapted to holda liquid therein, an air pipe disposed in said reservoir, a bubbleforming member slidably disposed on said air pipe and being incommunication with said air pipe, said member having air outlet openingstherein on its under side whereby said member is caused to rest upon thesurface of the liquid irrespective of the depth of the liquid.

ESTEN B. BEELER.

